Luke Beardon BA (Hons), PgC (Autism), EDd
Senior Lecturer
Summary
Luke has worked for several years in the fields of autism and Asperger Syndrome, in capacities ranging from practitioner to researcher to trainer. He started work specific to autism for The National Autistic Society (NAS) as a Service Coordinator assisting in the development of a residential service for young adults with autism.
About
In his post as Senior Lecturer in autism Luke runs various courses at different academic levels in autism, including a Masters qualification, while continuing to research and consult in the field of autism. He is the course leader for the Postgraduate Certificate in Asperger Syndrome, run in collaboration with the National Autistic Society, and supervises students at Doctoral level. In 2011 he was nominated for and subsequently awarded the Inspirational Teacher Award as voted by students. In 2012 Luke was nominated for and subsequently awarded the Inspirational Research Supervisor Award as voted by students.
Specialist areas of interest
Autism
Asperger Syndrome
Individual support and the criminal justice system
Research
Luke has been part of a research team at Nottingham University running a three year project, and has several publications in national and international journals related to the project. He completed his doctoral thesis at Sheffield Hallam University which was titled: Asperger Syndrome and Perceived Offending Conduct: A Qualitative Study.
He co-wrote the ASPECT consultancy report, the largest consultation with adults with AS undertaken at the time. He is co-editor of three books on Asperger syndrome published by Jessica Kingsley, and has various other publications in journals.
Publications
Journal articles
Chown, N., Annable, J.L., Beardon, L., & Howard, N. (2023). A response to the terms in Shah et al's 'Neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodiversity: definition of terms from Scotland's National Autism Implementation Team'. The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science, 222 (4), 157-159. http://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2022.153
Beardon, L., Baker-Rogers, J., Chown, N., Hughes, L., Cossburn, K., & Leatherland, J. (2018). Achieving More in College' Project: An assessment of the support for autistic students attending United Kingdom colleges. Good Autism Practice.
Chown, N.P., Beardon, L., & Cossburn, K. (2018). Rare instances of individuals with autism supporting or engaging in terrorism: a response to Lino Faccini and Clare Allely. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 9 (1), 59-63. http://doi.org/10.1108/jidob-06-2017-0012
Chown, N., Robinson, J., Beardon, L., Downing, J., Hughes, L., Leatherland, J., ... MacGregor, D. (2017). Improving research about us, with us: a draft framework for inclusive autism research. Disability and Society, 32 (5), 720-734. http://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2017.1320273
Leatherland, J., & Beardon, L. (2016). Introducing FAMe™: Can improved teacher access to individualised classroom support information impact positively on levels of anxiety in autistic pupils? ‘The Bridge: Journal for Educational Research-Informed Practice’, 3 (2). https://journaleducationalresearchinformedpractice.wordpress.com/volume-3-issue-2/research-article-1/
Lawson, W.B., & Beardon, L. (2016). Editor forewords. The Nine Degrees of Autism: A Developmental Model for the Alignment and Reconciliation of Hidden Neurological Conditions, xiii-xx.
Beale-Ellis, S., Beardon, L., Chown, N., & Martin, N. (2014). Examining intellectual prowess, not social differences: removing barriers from the doctoral viva for autistic candidates. Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and Higher Education, 22-38.
Beale-Ellis, S., Beardon, L., Chown, N., & Martin, N. (2014). Examining intellectual prowess, not social differences: removing barriers from the doctoral viva for autistic candidates. Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and Higher Education, 22-38.
Beardon, L., & Chown, N. (2014). Identification of adults on the autism spectrum: a suggested pathway and good practice principles. Good Autism Practice, 35.
Beardon, L., Woolsey, I., & Martin, N. (2009). What do students with Asperger syndrome or highfunctioning autism want at college and university? (in their own words). Good Autism Practice, 35.
Beardon, L. (2008). Is Autism really a disorder part two - theory of mind? Rethink how we think. Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and higher Education, 19-21.
Beardon, L., Martin, N., Goodley, D., & Madriaga, M. (2008). Towards an inclusive environment for university students who have Asperger syndrome. Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and Higher Education, 3-14.
Cobb, S., Beardon, L., Eastgate, R., Glover, T., Kerr, S., Neale, H., ... Wilson, J. (2002). Applied virtual environments to support learning of social interaction skills in users with Asperger's Syndrome. Digital Creativity, 13 (1), 11-22. http://doi.org/10.1076/digc.13.1.11.3208
Beardon, L., Parsons, S., & Neale, H. (2001). An interdisciplinary approach to investigating the use of virtual reality environments for people with Asperger syndrome. Educational and Child Psychology, 18 (2), 53-62.
Book chapters
Beardon, L. (2022). How and Why are Autistic People Anxious? In Educational Psychology Perspectives on Supporting Young Autistic People. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L. (2022). ‘Autopia'. In The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Autism Studies. (pp. 159-164). Routledge: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781003056577-16
Chown, N., Debbaudt, D., Beardon, L., Cossburn, K., & Scott, J. (2021). Autism and Operational Policing. In Handbook of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Law. (pp. 471-500). Springer International Publishing: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70913-6_23
Beardon, L. (2019). Autism, Masking, Social Anxiety and the Classroom. In Teacher Education and Autim. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L., Chown, N., & Milton, D. (2017). England and Autism. In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer
Beardon, L. (2017). Foreword. In Sensing the City: an Autistic Perspective. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L. (2017). The Stigma of Autism. In Thirty Years of Social Change. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L., & Gaskell, L. (2017). Autism, Learning Disability, and the Criminal Justice System. In The Autism Annual. Pavillion
Beardon, L., & Chwon, N. (2017). Theoretical Models of Autism. In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer
Beardon, L., & Chown, N. (2017). Autism Theory. In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer
Beardon, L., Chown, N., & Cossburn, K. (2017). First responders and autism. In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer
Beardon, L. (2016). Foreword. In Sensory Issues for Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L. (2014). Foreword. In Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L. (2012). Foreword. In Autism and Flexischooling. Jessica Kingsley
Beardon, L. (2006). Foreword. In The Asperger Personal Guide. Lucky Duck
Beardon, L. (2006). Foreword. In The Asperger Social Guide. Lucky Duck
Beardon, L. (2005). Foreword. In The Asperger Love Guide. Lucky Duck
Books
Beardon, L. (2022). What Works for Autistic Children. Sheldon Press.
Beardon, L. (2021). Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults. Sheldon Press.
Beardon, L. (2020). Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children. Sheldon Press.
Beardon, L. (2019). Autism in Childhood. (2nd). Sheldon Press.
Beardon, L. (2017). Autism in Adults. (2nd). Sheldon Press.
Beardon, L., & Worton, D. (2017). Love, Partnership, or Singleton on the Autism Spectrum. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Beardon, L., & Worton, D. (2017). Bittersweet on the Autism Spectrum. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Beardon, L., & Worton, D. (2011). Aspies on Mental Health Speaking for Ourselves. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Edmonds, G., & Beardon, L. (2008). Asperger Syndrome and Social Relationships Adults Speak Out about Asperger Syndrome. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Edmonds, G., & Beardon, L. (2008). Asperger Syndrome and Employment Adults Speak Out about Asperger Syndrome. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Wylie, P., Lawson, W., & Beardon, L. (Eds.). (n.d.). The Nine Degrees of Autism. Routledge. http://doi.org/10.4324/9781315714332
Reports
Beardon, L. (2007). Aspect Consultancy Report.
Theses / Dissertations
Panella-Peral, S. (2020). A Longitudinal Exploration of Infants’ Social Looks in Naturalistic Settings. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Beardon, L., & Jay, T. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00354
Pindar, S.-.A. (2019). Autistic Dreaming: a phenomenological study of dreaming and well-being. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Beardon, L. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00319
Leatherland, J. (2018). Understanding how autistic pupils experience secondary school: autism criteria, theory and FAMe™. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Beardon, L. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00101
Ellis, S.J. (2014). Perspectives of the autistic ‘Voice’:An ethnography examining informal education learning experiences. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Beardon, L.
Chown, N. (2012). A treatise on language methods and language-games in autism. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Beardon, L.
Beardon, L. (2008). Asperger Syndrome and perceived offending conduct: a qualitative study. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Garner, I., & Senior, P.
Andrews, T.R. (n.d.). Exploring the impact of a developing sexuality on adolescents with autism. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Hodge, N. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00084
Internet Publications
Beardon, L. (2014). Luke Beardon Perspective on Autism. [Blog]. https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/autism/
Other activities
governor, Mossbrook Special School
review and advise on national strategy guidance/legislation: e.g. The Autism Act
Media
Dr Luke Beardon is a member of staff in The Autism Centre at Sheffield Hallam University. He has been working as a practitioner providing support and consultancy in the field of autism and Asperger syndrome for around 20 years. Luke's research interests are around individuals with autism who have broken the law.